In the Core Curriculum, 勛圖厙 students become familiar with the broad sweep of Western intellectual and cultural history, and so become capable of entering into this history more deeply and understanding it more precisely. The Concentration in History of Western Thought is a path to this deeper study.
At the heart of this deeper engagement lies philosophy, in which the thinking of each age about fundamental questions becomes most explicit and systematic. Indeed, philosophers try to articulate the principles presupposed by art, literature, history, mathematics, and the natural and human sciences. For this reason, philosophy is ultimately inseparable from each of the other disciplines, and its history cannot be told in abstraction from theirs.
The concentration is centered on the three historical courses required of philosophy majors:
- From Ancient to Medieval Philosophy
- From Medieval to Modern Philosophy
- From Modern to Postmodern Philosophy
In addition, students choose two courses from a wide variety of offerings in other departments. Courses are available in English, Modern Languages, Art, Drama, History, Education, Politics, Economics, Psychology, Anthropology and Sociology, and Mathematics.
A list of course options may be found in the . For more information about the History of Western Thought Concentration, contact Dr. Kevin Kambo, the concentration director.